Argon Creative

[nij]

+1

They are literally on our doorsteps. When they first started up, I had a few parts made including skinning the back of my bucket seats. I thought I would help them out by posting a thread on here, but it seems to have back fired due to their success. They are a very small outfit trying their best. Hopefully, they can sort themselves out soon. I could give them a nudge if anyone is having problem with them.

[RossDagley]

Just an update.

Since my "complaint" I've had regular emails from Tony @ argon with updates, pictures and details of progress and ETA of readiness etc.

They've really turned this situation around for me and although I'm still disappointed (with the delays and unrealistic expectation) the service I'm now getting is vastly improved. I got an email today saying that they would like a few extra days (estimated last time that shipping would be Friday/tomorrow) to ensure perfect finish to which I wasn't reluctant about - Tony's really gone out of his way to turn me from an irritated customer to happy one.

I have no doubt Argon's intentions are good and true - they seem perhaps if anything to just be too busy and the customer side of things slipped for me at the beginning. Now I'm impressed with the effort they are putting in.

It looks like it's all working out

[neilparf]

Just an update.

Since my "complaint" I've had regular emails from Tony @ argon with updates, pictures and details of progress and ETA of readiness etc.

They've really turned this situation around for me and although I'm still disappointed (with the delays and unrealistic expectation) the service I'm now getting is vastly improved. I got an email today saying that they would like a few extra days (estimated last time that shipping would be Friday/tomorrow) to ensure perfect finish to which I wasn't reluctant about - Tony's really gone out of his way to turn me from an irritated customer to happy one.

I have no doubt Argon's intentions are good and true - they seem perhaps if anything to just be too busy and the customer side of things slipped for me at the beginning. Now I'm impressed with the effort they are putting in.

It looks like it's all working out

Fair play to them and fair play to you Ross for showing it how it is before and after.

[jaysrs4]

Sounds nice and positive

[Baz4]

Glad to hear there's a happy ending. Really honest, canny lads at argon, hope all this business gives them an opportunity to employ some more hands and grow the business.

[TonyHayers]

They seriously need to hire/train some new people. Being a victim of your own growth doesn't entirely make sense. Yes, it's highly skilled but it's not brain surgery.

At the very least, hire a sales/admin/customer support person to keep your customers happy!

[nikkak77]

I waited 5 months for a steering wheel trim. Only for them to say they can't make it. I was sent it unfinished. Ok for free but I finished it off and fitted. Still waiting on the front carbon rings that I ordered before Christmas. Not paid for yet tho

If you are still interested for a wheel carbon trim, i can say that i had a very good experience with a company called Nexon Motors (they have an Ebay store) and you talk to a guy called Izzy.

[manual_daniel]

My bucket seat inserts are almost ready, just clear-coating to complete now. They sent me an email with an update and photos without me asking for it, so I am happy.

[AdrianD]

My bucket seat inserts are almost ready, just clear-coating to complete now. They sent me an email with an update and photos without me asking for it, so I am happy.

Looking good, i quite fancy this doing, out of interest how long has it taken them Dan?

[manual_daniel]

My bucket seat inserts are almost ready, just clear-coating to complete now. They sent me an email with an update and photos without me asking for it, so I am happy.

Looking good, i quite fancy this doing, out of interest how long has it taken them Dan?

It's taken about one month so far. I bought new parts from Audi and shipped them directly to Argon. I am not in a rush and never pushed them. You could probably get them done in 3 weeks if you pushed them. My feeling with this kind of work is not to rush the process.

[RossDagley]

Well I was reluctant to do this after I thought everything was going so well, but my relationship with Argon has broken down to the point where I have no option but to post my followup that's less than perfect.

As you know, I finally received my parts after waiting many weeks longer than advised. Here's the condition they were in when I unboxed them:

Finish:





Runs:



Fit:


The bottle cover didn't fit whatsoever - the bracket on the back wasn't installed in the right place.
The rain tray obviously is unsightly, but Argon advised that with the heat from the engine bay, this would settle down as it had with other customers.

I wanted these items for my Nurburgring trip, so arranged with Argon that I would return the bottle cover, and attempt to rectify the poor finish on the rain tray myself using polishing compounds etc. Argon offered to pay for the return (next day) postage.

Returned, the bottle cover was much better although still not perfect, with some areas still thick with lacquer. At least it now fit after Argon corrected the bracket on the back. After several hours polishing the other parts that were poorly finished, I got everything fitted, and went on my way.

The only part I received that was in good order was the splitter - which ironically I then lost at high speed (due to my own fitting fault) a few days after fitting.

Fast forward to this weeks MAF failure, where I've had the bonnet open so noticed yet more faults have developed:




The rain tray is a carbon wrap over a standard rain tray. Here you can see it's badly de-laminating. This is because where it wasn't fitting properly before, when the bonnet closes they touch, causing the carbon to arc putting pressure on the original tray, forcing the two "trays" apart.



And here is the bottle cover - untouched since installation, but now cracking/blistering in areas of high lacquer.

After emailing Argon today requesting I return these products as I'm completely unsatisfied now, I have been told that Argon cannot be responsible for products treated outside of their intended use and the excessive heat caused by my trip to the Nurburgring has caused these further faults and a refund is out of the question. This is despite an earlier comment that the heat was REQUIRED to correct the poor fit.

I am left with a very bitter taste in my mouth after being EXTREMELY patient with Argon despite their repeated mistakes and errors, and left financially very badly out of pocket.

[HYFR]

Cow boys

[neilparf]

Remind me NEVER EVER to order any Crapbon items from here. 'Shocking' is not a suitable word to describe this.

Did you pay by credit card, Ross? Any protection there?

I hate to think the amount of money they have had for this. The rain tray approach takes the biscuit...

Anyone ordering carbon from Argon after reading this thread would need their head testing.

Feel for you, Ross.

[Noyjatat]

It might be worth speaking to Phil about having them removed as a site Sponsor due to poor products based on these problems. I had a similar experience with them for my red carbon fibre engine pieces. Based on Marzz running hydro dipped parts on his engine for a year now I am going down that route instead although not doing the parts in carbon fibre effect.

[RossDagley]

Thank you Neil.

I really didn't want to "slag off" anyone publicly and would have preferred to keep it between us, but you're quite right the money isn't something I can just throw away, so felt vindicated somewhat to post here showing what I was going through.

In Argon's defence, they did turn the bottle cover round promptly after I returned it, but it should never have come to me like that in the first place. The splitter was also good (very good in fact), and destroying it is completely my fault (and unrelated to my post really). The oil cooler splitter has runs in (that I've not returned for correction or attempted to fix) but I've left it because it's difficult to see when fitted to the car obviously so being a poor finish isn't so important.

I paid, in full and in advance, by bank transfer intentionally to help them pass on more "discount" to me by not paying credit card fees etc.

I'm quite upset really - I'm not a confrontational guy at all (quite the opposite as you know Neil) and hate being the neigh sayer but I don't have a lot of options but to moan here now.